The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-02-17
SOUTHERN PITTSBURG.-
THE GREAT BOOM WHICH CAPITAL IS
GIVING FLORENCE, ALABAMA.

The Wonderful Mineral Wealth Undis-
turLed for Sixty Years-Cincinnati Capt.
tai Breathes the Breath of Life into the
Place-Its Solid Foundation.
FLORENCE, Ala, Feb. 16.-Florence, Ala,
was an Indian trading post for many years.
1t being at the past and present head Of navi-
cation on the Tennessee river, all supplies were
brought here for general distribution. This
was the home of CheroSees and Chickasaws.
Old Doublehead, q Cherokee chief made his
home here for many years after the settle
ment Of the whites. The land was ceded to
the whites in about 1917.
Chief Colbert, of the Chickasaws, lived
here as late as 1896, and his daughters were
educated at the Synodical school Of Florence.
In 1918 the town was laid out by the Cyprus
Land company. At the sale Of lots in 1919
the principal purchasers were Gen, Andrew
jackson, James Madison, Gen. John Coffee
and Col. James jackson. Lots sold then as
high as $4,000. 1t was the aim TO make it
the inland city Of the south. Political diff
ferences made the effort abortiye, and since
then the town has tripled the sleep of Rip
Van Wrinkle
II is true the town grew, but slowly. Cot
ton was king; slavery the motive power. A
people fettered in slavery are not likely to
startle the world by industry. An occasional
enterprise was started, but they were all de-
stroyed during the war,
The Florence Of one year ago was a typ
ical southern town. indolent, idle sleepy,
easygoing and hospital as cavalier, while
moral as a Puritan. The people enjoyed
home life of quiet content and satisfied ease.
There was but little effort to amass fortunes.
The people were still pulseless from the strain
of the war They depended on cotton from
poorly cultivated fields. They ignored the
wealth nature had created below the soil.
They allowed the cream to corrode, while
they strained the SKINNED milk
The utilization of the iron lands in other
sections Of the south induced Capt. Lee How
ell, of the Louisville 81 Nashville railroad,
and his associates to form a syndicate and
show the world what made Florence rich. A
land company was formed and about 1000
acres of land near Florence and 10000 acres
of mineral and were purchased. This was
capitalized at S3,0000 900 and stock sold-all
taken. The capitalization was at the rate of
z 1-2 for l. Following that company came
the McNabb Coal & Coke company, con-
Quoted by Cincinnati capital That was
formed into the Coal, Coke & Iron company,
with a capital of $1,000000, The company
has its own coal mines in operation, its own
boats to convey COAL and has donation Of
twenty-five acres Of land adjacent to Flor
ence, and $50 900 in land scrip.
The secretary, Mr. A, G. Burnett late Of
Cincinnati, has succeeded in buying about
80, 900 acres and men are now in the field
and will continue to buy until 100000 acres
Of mineral land are owned by the company.
This company is now the live, pushing, dash
ing-but withal prudent-motve power to
propel Florence TO the front The property
bought in and around the city aggregates
S6S,0O0. A hotel will he begun by April 1.
The president is John Woodland, Nashville.
W. B. Bunet, Cincinnati, vice president; A,
G. BurneJ, Cincinnati secretary; J. S. Doe,
Columbus, O., manager The company will
at once erect 100 ton blast furnace and,
also, one seventy-fve ton blast furnace. This
company is really the life of Florence to-day.
The outlook to-day is far more encourag.
ing than ever before. The underbrush is
being cleared out rapidly from the lands of
the Florence Land company, and avenues
and streets laid off The avenues will be $50
feet wide and the streets 100 feet wide. At
present there is no effort to sell lots, for all is
advertised to be sold on the Goth Of April
There Is an effort to prevent speculation in
land, and instead, desire to build town.
Men are making estimates on buildings, and
a number will be put up as fast as the mate
rial can be had.
A brick company have located their plant
for a machine, with a capacity for $4,000
per day, and a second company is organic
ing TO make brick at the rate Of 100, 900 per
day.
Six furnaces are under contract one chemi-
cal alcohol, one file factory, one machine
works, two planning mills. Organized is one
gas company, 100000; water works COM
pany, $4,000; building and loan association.
100000, and an additional land company,
$75, 900, that will be capitalized at five to one.
On that land is one cotton mill in operation.
A number Of minor industries are located,
and men are investing each day. Land that
six months ago would have sold for $40 per
acre is now divided into lots of twelve to the
acre, that sell for from $500 to 81, 900 per lot
Men that were land poor year ago are COM
Portable to-day. Money Is plenty, and more
is coming every day. The Florence land
stock that cost on ground floor 13 1-2 is sell
ing for 30 1-9, and none on the market. 1t
sells for 4S for May delivery. The general
impression is that it will jump to rs by May
and to par by July. The history Of other
booms on less solid foundation has gone as
high as 260 to 800.
Ore is within sixteen miles Of the town IN
boundless quantities. Coal for coke making
is contracted for at the mean cost of six
cents. Pig iron can be, put at Cincinnati at
good profit for S12. One railroad is here
The Louisville g. Nashville is within twenty
miles, and being rapidly pushed to this point,
aiming to reach here by July. Three other
roads are being built, and number more on
paper.
A Cincinnati syndicate has arranged for
the immediate construction Of one hundred
cottages, and in thirty days. building viii be
in full blast. -,., * no.,
PoOI TOuruamant